One of Tennessee football’s deepest and strongest position groups is at linebacker. Under William Inge, who enters his second year with the program, the Vols have dominated the recruiting trail and held on to the majority of their returning production.
Currently, Tennessee boasts a tandem of proven juniors in Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander at the top. Behind them, redshirt freshmen Edwin Spillman and Jordan Burns are set to play a sizable role. UT also brings in true freshmen Jadon Perlotte, Jaedon Harmon and Brenden Anes.
The future is bright, as well. Tennessee has already landed two of the top five linebackers in the 2026 class. Four-stars Brayden Rouse and TJ White are also joined by three-star Braylon Outlaw in the class.
So, what’s been the secret for Inge to sell these top recruits on the program and to hold onto talent once they get on campus?
“Recruiting is a constant process,” Inge said. “So the one thing I want to do in my room is to have the very best platform for everyone to be able to go in and play. And I tell them, if you’re prepared and you understand how not to beat yourself, you’ll have a chance to play. And something I take a lot of pride in for me, from a coaching standpoint, is putting our players in positions where they all can play. And that’s what I tell them in the recruiting process. If you do what you’re supposed to do, you’re going to have a chance to play. And that’s what we want to be able to do, and that’s our job. Now that you have a brand and that Power T, which is the mighty icon of the SEC, you can go into any home and sell them the vision that’s very real. And it’s a real vision because when they push play, they see it. They see it. And our reputation has really, it really destroys our past.”
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Spillman, a projected contributor off the bench in his second year with the team, noted what makes Inge someone he wants to play for. He was one of the first recruits to commit to Inge once he got the job and stayed following a first season that saw him battle injury.
As a freshman, Spillman posted six tackles in four games, earning a redshirt.
“Coach Inge, he’s a great man, and obviously, a great coach, too,” Spillman said. “Always pouring into the guys. It’s just a blessing to come out here every single day and play for Tennessee, the Volunteers and also getting coached by Coach Inge. It’s just an opportunity every day and a blessing.”
